Sunday, July 22, 2012

GAH!

From the Speakers: TALK OF THE TOWN by Jack Johnson
Just Read: PIRATE LATITUDES by Michael Crichton--Pretty fun adventure story, but I didn't like the twist at the end. I won't give it away, but that character was one of my favorites!
Just Read: A CLASH OF KINGS by George R.R. Martin--Really incredible. These stories are so intricate and awesome in their cultures and conspiracies . . . not to mention all the badass stuff you know is coming just around the corner. Time to watch Game of Thrones Season 2!

Some rejections mean just a little bit more than others.

Got one when I got back from the beach on Saturday--rude welcome home from vacation, I know. Worst way to return to the real world.

The thing is, most rejections give me the same feeling: a mild bummed out disappointment that I get over quickly and replace with the excitement of searching for new, more appropriate magazines for that story.

But I sent this story to Leading Edge magazine in MARCH OF 2011!! They always take a long time to reply because they give you feedback when they reject you, but SIXTEEN MONTHS?! They've taken a long time before (their website says expect 4-6 months), and when I didn't hear back for so long, I figured, "Well, they must be taking so long because they like it and are preparing it for publication."

Nope.

Pretty much everything the four pages of critique said was positive. One reader went so far as to thank me for letting him or her read it and say it was "definitely publishable." So I mean all in all it was a positive rejection . . . but after so long, and hoping fervently to get into this magazine, it really brought me down. That publication would have been a huge boost! Instead, the opposite.

Oh well. Maybe now that I've vented, the excitement of submission will return, I can tweak it, and find a potential home for it.

But gah!

GAH!

GAHHHHHH!

8 comments:

  1. That surely stinketh, Devin! The same thing happened to me, and I've never submitted there again. But my story that languished with them for so long was accepted this year by a pro-paying market -- and I'm hoping the same for you.

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    1. ...and way to go on meeting & beating your July W1S1 goals, Devin!

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  2. That's a long wait, all right! This probably sounds a bit hollow given you had to wait 16 MONTHS to hear from them: but i'm sure you'll sell the story within the next couple submissions.

    Also, congrats on reaching your W1S1 goals for July!

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  3. Get it back out on submission immediately! Sounds like it'll find a good home eventually.

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  4. I'm sorry :( Those kinds of rejections are definitely the worst. I agree with Simon though, send that sucker back out right away.

    Also, congratulations on meeting your W1S1 goals for July :)

    ~ Rhonda Parrish

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  5. Congrats on meeting your w1s1 goals.

    Sixteen months is a bit ridiculous. Those rejections when you expect an acceptance are the worst. Most places reject quickly and accept slowly so it's not unreasonable that you would get your hopes up the longer they kept it. Send it out again. From your description of their rejection, it sounds like your story didn't fit their needs rather than a problem inherent to the story. Good luck.

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  6. GAH, indeed! Congrats on meeting your W1S1 goals though, and best of luck finding a home for your story elsewhere -- hopefully somewhere with a less ridiculous response time!

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  7. Thanks everyone! I've taken the magazine's comments and tweaked the story, and I'm pretty happy with it. Time to hunt for place to submit it. I appreciate all your support!

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